Lyman Good out at Bellator 44, promotion seeking replacement for Dan Hornbuckle

Former Bellator welterweight champion Lyman Good (11-2 MMA, 4-2 BFC) has been forced out of a planned matchup with Dan Hornbuckle (22-4 MMA, 3-2 BFC), and the organization is currently seeking a replacement.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the withdrawal, which was first reported by Sherdog.com.

Featuring Bellator middleweight champ Hector Lombard in a non-title matchup with Falaniko Vitale, Bellator 44 takes place May 14 at New Jersey’s Caesars Atlantic City. The night’s main card airs on MTV2.

The Good vs. Hornbuckle matchup was expected to serve as a qualifier for Bellator’s upcoming season-five welterweight tournament.

Good and Hornbuckle both competed in the organization’s current season-four tournament. However, Good, who lost his title to Ben Askren back in October, defeated Chris Lozano in an opening-round matchup before Rick Hawn topped him via close split-decision in the semifinals.

Hornbuckle suffered an opening-round loss to Brent Weedman.

Along with Hieron, Good and Hornbuckle were some of the eight-man tourney’s early favorites.

Good opened his career with a 10-0 mark, which included winning Bellator’s season-one tourney and becoming the organization’s first 170-pound champion. However, he’s 1-2 since then.

Hornbuckle, who previously competed in Japan for World Victory Road’s Sengoku event series, had won 19 or 20 fights before his own 1-2 skid.

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